Hydrometer float



Jan. 16, l945 LLEDELMANN HYDROMETER FLOAT lFiled July 2, 1943 PatentedJan. 16, 1945` UNITED;

oFFlCE v1anrDRoME'rER FLOAT Leo',Edelmann, Chicago,"lll. Y AppiicauonJuly 2, 1943, seriaiNo. 493,264

comms; (vol. 'rsf-335 Y My invention relates to improvements inhydrometer floats, and particularly to` a oat structure intendedand'adapted for use in testing two ormore liquid solutions havingspecific gravity above and below the speciiic gravity of water. f

An object of this invention is to provide a float element that can beused intesting automobile radiator anti-freeze solutions, 'and the`like', tov

spacing on the two scales, and with thefportion f of the scales aboveand below the specific gravity point of water eliminated andcompensatedfor whereby the float element and the stern thereof.

can be kept within and confined to a minimum hydrometer float elementcontainingan embodiment of my invention.

*Fig 2 is a diagrammatic View showing the spel cie gravity range ascompensated for.

Fig. 3 is a broken fragmentary view illustrating a modification. y

rlhe -float bulb portion I is here shown as being of standard `form andconstruction, and design,

and it ywill be appreciated that 'this is capable of variationinvconstruction and shape, as may be desired. This iloat bulb portion Ihas the K weighting material 2 in its lower end, and the bulb portion isdrawn in and reduced at its upper end, as at 3. A gauge scale stem ll,which is of relatively smaller diameter is fused or connected with thedrawn in portion at 3, and hasl therein a scale sheet or portion 5showing scale readings f cations (i` corresponding with the specificgravityy space -orlength so that the oat element is adaptable for useina syringe type of hydrometer without necessity of increasing theoverall length of the hydrometer proportionate to the increase in rangeof the scale kreadings or indications.

Stilll another purpose of I*my invention is to provide a hydrometeriioat that can be made entirelyA of glass, and which in its finishedform is of substantially unitary construction so that the possibility ofliquid finding its way into the -i'loat element is precluded. f

Yet lanother purpose is to so constructl the float element thatcompensations can be vmade to increase for `decrease* the gap in theeffective n I invention includes certain novel .features of`construction and combinations and arrangements 0f l parts which will behereinafter'set forth in conor indications E for a liquid heavier thanwater. At 'the'top of the gauge or scale stem 4 a bulbous portion'llliis provided, which portion I occupies a relativeposition with respectto the scale indiof water. Above this bulbous portion 1, an upper gaugeor scale stemportion 8 is provided, and this portion 8 has therein anupper scale vsheet or portion 9 with indicating markings IIl thereonadapted for use in testing liquid solutions lighter than water. TheUppergauge or scale stem portion 8 is preferably made of larger diameterthan the lower gauge or scale stem portion 4, and this portion!! isclosed and sealed at its upper end, as at II.

Ther float bulb portion I can be provided with one or more series ofradially outwardly extending centering and friction reducing points orbeads, as lat I2 rand I3, and forl convenience in use in a hydrometerliquid barrel of the usual A form, ity is perhaps preferable' thatthekbulbous y and frictionreducing points or ybeads I2 and I3.

nection with the drawing and then pointed out in the claims. v

In the drawing: y Figure .1, is a view. in side elevation showing a Inthe present instance I have illustrated an embodiment of my invention ina hydrometer float element `adapted for use in testing radiatoranti-freeze solutionsofthe ethylene glycol type, heavier than water.,and solutions of the 'alcohol type, lighter than water, and Fig.l 2diagrammatically illustrates a float gaugey stem such as wouldordinarily be required to accomplish tests within the wide range aboveand below the specific gravity point of water, desired to be tested withthis instrument. As illustrated .in Fig. 2,A the body portion I a has a'stem upstanding therefrom constituting the lower gauge stem portion lI-aand the upper gauge stem portion 8--a, with an intermediate compensatingportion 'l-a, which is within an area above and below the specificgravity range of Water, and which range is not considered practicablefor testing solutins of antifreeze liquids. The lower portion 4-a has ascale sheet or strip G-a therein and the upper stem portion has a scaleor sheet Illa displayed therein.

As is indicated, the speciiic gravity indications cover a range fromsubstantially .887 to 1.106, thus giving a very wide range so thatliquid antifreeze solutions or other liquid solutions can be tested at awide variation of temperatures, some of which temperatures may changethe specic gravity characteristics of the liquid solutions beyond limitsthat might ordinarily be expected.

However, as is indicated in Fig. 2, the useful range in the alcohol' orlighter scale is ordinarily between .887 and .962, and the useful rangefor the ethylene glycol scale is between 1.050 and 1.106. Inactualpractice it has been found that readings or indications of thespecific gravity of the lighter and heavier liquids appreciably aboveand below the speciiic gravity point of water have little or no utility,when testing radiator antifreeze solutions; and, it has been foundpracticable to eliminate all readings between approximately .962 and1.050, more or less, as is indicated by the dotted line portion in thedrawing` Thus, with the gauge or scale stem of uniform diameterl thescale markings in the portion 6 0. are relatively closer together thanin the scale portion 8-a, thus requiring lengthening of the scaleportion -a; and, at the same time the portion 'L-a, which shows no scalereadings, is of relatively greater length than either of the scaledisplaying portions. I lhave found that quite accurate specific gravityindications can be obtained when the scale markings are placed in fourpoint spacing, and with my improve-d hydrometer iioat structure this canbe accomplished on both the lower and upper indicating scale portions,and the spacings can be kept suiliciently far apart to give ready andaccurate readings, without increasing the length of the gauge or stemportion, and consequently the overall length of the float element,beyond a practical and useful dimension.

In the adaptation as illustrated in Figure 1, the stem portion 4 is madeof relatively small diameter and the indicating markings, even thoughonly four points of specic gravity apart, can be held to such limitsthat the length of the stein is not unduly increased for the widespecific gravity range as covered, and at the same time the gaugemarkings and indications can be readily seen and read. The bulbousportion 1 is of such volumetric size that it will represent adisplacement corresponding to the displacement of the portion 'l--a, asindicated in Fig. 2; and, the gauge or scale stem portion 8 is increasedin diameter so that its volumetric displacement will substantially equalthe displacement of the portion 8-a, as shown in Fig. 2. By increasingthe diameter of the gauge or stem portion 8, it is possible to shortenthe space or distance between the gauge markings, while stillmaintaining the four point spacing, and thus, the individual spaces ofthe scale sheet l will correspond more nearly to the individual spaceson the scale sheet 6.

By constructing my improved hydrometer in this way it is possible toconsiderably shorten the overall length of the complete gaugeV or scaleStem portion, and to at the Sametime keep the desired range and have thescale markings and the indications therefor of such spacing and sizethat they can be readily viewed and read. For example,in the presentinstance the scale portion as illustrated in Fig. 2 is approximatelyeight and ve-eighths inches overall, whereas the scale in the disclosurein Figure 1 is substantially only five inches, and the effective anduseful range is substantially the same. In consequence, the liquid andfloat receiving barrel of the hydrometer and the overall length of thecomplete' hydrometer can be proportionately shortened, and at the sametime, the float element with my improved stem structure can be morereadily handled, weighted and calibrated during manufacture, and is lesssubject to breakage and damage when in use.

, Obviously, the bulbous portion 'I can be made of smaller diameter andgreater length, and can be varied in shape and design, to suit diierentrequirements and conditions of use.

As illustrated in Fig. 3, the lower and upper stem portions 4-b and S-bhave the bulbous displacement portion 1--b therebetween, and in thisinstance the bulbous portion is provided with a series of substantiallyradially outwardly extending centering and friction reducing points orbeads I4.

In the use of my improve-d hydrometer oat element, the scale -B of thelower stem portion d will be employed in connection with ethylene glycolsolutions or other solutions heavier than water, and as the stem portionis of relatively small diameter and consequently has a corresponding4 lysmall volumetric displacement, the divisions or markings on the scalesheet or portion 6 can be spaced sufliciently far apart to make possibleclear and accurate readings, even though the spacing of the divisions beonly some four points of specic gravity. The bulbous portion 'I givesvolumetric displacement substantially corresponding to the displacementof the portion l-a, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2, and inconsequence the readings on the upper stem portionV 8 will be eiectiveto give desired data without the necessity of having the extreme lengthof the middle or unused portion oi the stern,` By making the upper Stemportion B of larger diameter than the lower stem portion 4, thevolumetric displacement of this upper stem portion will .be increased,and consequently with an instrument for testing alcohol antifreezesolutions. or other liquid solutions lighter than water, it is possibleto hold the division or indicating markings on the scale Ill to shorterintervals or lengths. thus considerably shortening the necessary lengthof the upper stem portion 8 over the length of the corresponding portion8-a as yillustrated in Fig. 2.

Although I have illustrated and described my improved hydrometerstructure particularly as adapted and intended for use in testingradiator anti-freeze solutions, such as ethylene glycol and alcohol, itis obvious that the invention is adaptable for use with other radiatoranti-freeze solutions, and with solutions of other characteristics andfor other purposes.

While I have herein shown and described only certain speciiicembodiments of my invention and have suggested only certain possiblemcdications, it willbe appreciated that many changes and variations canbe made in the form and construction and the shape or design, as well asin the material from which the parts are made,

without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, whichis'dened by the appended claims,

I claim: n

1. A hydrometer oat having an upstanding indicating stem provided withindications in thev lower part thereof for testing solutions having aspecificgravity greater than water and in the upper part for testingsolutions vhaving a specific gravity less than water, said stem havingan en ,v

larged displacement portion intermediate the up-r per and lowermeasuring portions.

bulbous displacement portion at the top of the lower stem portion, anupper stem portion extending above the bulbous portion and of greaterdiameter than the lower stein portion, indicating scale means -dividingthe lower stem portion for use in testing heavier liquid solutions, andindicating scale means dividing the upper stem portion for use intesting lighter liquid solutions.

4. A hydrometer float element for use in testing the specific gravity ofradiator anti-freeze soluw tions having speciiic gravity heavier thanwater and other radiator anti-freeze solutions having specific gravitylighter than water and in which use the specic gravity of a heaviersolution for an appreciable amount below the specific gravity ofwaterand a lighter solution for an appreciable amount above the specificgravity of water is immaterial comprising, a float bulb portion weightedat its lower end, a thin lower gauge stem portion rising from the top ofsaid weighted bulb portion,

scale displaying means in said lower gauge stem p `portion for use intesting solutions heavier than water, an enlargement at the upper end ofthe .the specific gravity of radiator anti-freeze solul 3 ytions havingspecific gravity heavierthan water and other radiator anti-freeze-solutions having speci-c gravity lighter than water and inwhich use thespeciiic gravity of a heavier solution `for an appreciable amount belowthe specific gravity of water and a lighter solution for an appreciableamount kalcove the specic gravity of water is immaterial comprising,-afloat bulb portion weighted at its lower end, a thin lower gauge stemportion rising from the top of said weighted bulb portion,

scale displaying means in said lower gauge stem y lportion for use intesting solutions heavier than water, an enlargement at the upper end ofthe lower stem portion of suflicient volumetric displacement tocompensate for the -disregarded limitsl of specific gravity above andbelow the specic gravity of Water, an upper gauge stem portion risingfrom said enlarged displacement portion and having its upper end closed,and scale displaying means in Isaid upper gauge stem por tion.v for usein testingl solutions lighter than water, the enlarged displacementportion of the stem having an outside diameter substantially no greaterthan the-float bulb portion whereby the hydrometer iioat element can beused in a liquid and oat receiving barrel of an ordinary syringe type ofhydrometer.

6. A hydrometer iioat element for use in testing the specific gravity ofradiator anti-freeze solutions having speciiic ygravity heavier thanwater and, other radiator anti-freeze solutions having specific gravitylighter than water and in which use the specific gravity of a heaviersolu-y tion for an appreciableam'ount below the specific gravity ofwater and a lighter solution for an ap..

lpreciable amount above the specic gravity of water is -immaterialcomprising, a float bulb portion weighted at its lower end, a lowergauge stem portion rising from the top o'f said weighted bulb portion,scale displaying means in said lower gauge stem portion foruse intesting solutions heavier than water, an enlargement at the upper end ofthe lower stem portion of sufficient-volumetric displacement tocompensate'for the disregarded limits of specific gravity above andbelow the specific gravity of water, an upper gauge stem portion risingfrom said enlarged displacement portion and having its upper end closed,scale displaying means in said upper gauge stem portion for use intesting solutions lighter than water, and laterally extending centeringand friction reducing points on the enlarged portions of the oatelement, the enlarged displacement portion of the stem having an outsidediameter substantially no greater thanv the outside diameter of the oatbulb portion taken through the centering and friction reducing points.

\ LEO EDELMANN.

